The EDC advances the recognition of eating disorders as a public health priority throughout the United States.

Our Goals

With focused attention on educating and working with Congress, we can effectively influence federal policy. Our specific goals are to:

Raise awareness among policy makers and the public at large about the serious health risks posed by eating disorders

Promote federal support for improved access to care

Increase resources for education, prevention, and improved training

Increase funding and support for scientific research on the etiology, prevention, and treatment of eating disorders

Promote initiatives that support the healthy development of children

Mobilize concerned citizens to advocate on behalf of people with eating disorders, their families, and professionals in the field

How We Are Reaching Our Goals

Advocating

We work to promote policies that eliminate the problems faced by people with eating disorders and that may prevent further people from developing eating disorders.

Educating Members of Congress

We create educational materials and briefing sheets that summarize the problems with and research related to eating disorders, and we meet with Members of Congress and federal agencies. We have held two Congressional briefings a year since 2000.

Raising Visibility

We have conducted and are currently organizing Congressional events to bring increased attention to and awareness of eating disorders as a policy issue. We have gathered people from across the country to advocate for eating disorder-related policies. Each of our National Lobby Days has brought between fifty and one hundred advocates to the Hill, and as a result of our regular action alerts, thousands of constituents have contacted Members of Congress about eating disorder policies.

Surveying Past and Current Efforts

We have collected data and written summary reports on what federal agencies and Congress have done to address the problem of eating disorders.

﻿Using Social Media

We actively communicate via Facebook and Twitter to raise awareness of eating disorders and our policy initiatives, and to encourage advocacy.

The EDC shines a light on the most important issues related to eating disorders, offering hope to the millions of people who care about the 30 million American women and men who struggle with eating disorders until they can hope for themselves.”